Chandler school district spokesman Terry Locke said that the district communicated to parents Friday that Principal Ken James, Athletic Director Shawn Rustad and former football coach Steve Belles "will be reassigned to work in other district-related duties away from the Hamilton High campus" starting Monday.

"While none of the employees have been charged, it could be some time before the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office decides how it will proceed," Locke said. "Therefore, to avoid any distraction caused by this uncertainty, the district administration and employees believe that reassignment is the best course at this time."

Chris Farabee, an assistant principal at Hamilton High for the past 14 years, will fill in for James as as acting principal. Sharon Vanis, a former Hamilton High athletic director, will step in for Rustad. Another teacher is expected to take over Belles' history classes.

The district did not specify the new assignments for James, Rustad and Belles.

Ken Countryman, attorney for Hamilton High School football player Nathaniel Thomas, speaks to reporters after an April 5, 2017, hearing at which bond was set for his client. Garrett Mitchell/The Republic

Steve Belles, the onetime head football coach at Chandler Hamilton High School, was reassigned as coach less than a week after six Hamilton football players were arrested in an assault case. Carlos Salcedo/Special for The Republic

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said it filed criminal charges on March 30, 2017, against three football players for incidents based on a Chandler police investigation of hazing at Hamilton High School. Diego Mendoza-Moyers/The Republic

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery announced on Feb. 14, 2018, that his office would not charge school administrators in connection with the case because witnesses did not agree to come forward. The Republic

No charging decision on the school officials has been made by the County Attorney's Office. The case remains under review.

“We’re going to hold off on commenting until a charging decision is made,” Amanda Jacinto, the office's spokeswoman, said when asked about the Chandler school district’s announcement.

Chandler police sought charges against James, Belles and Rustad in late July, saying in a probable-cause statement submitted to prosecutors that the men knew about the alleged assaults but did not contact law enforcement. Instead, they opted to investigate matters themselves, police said.

Police allege that multiple physical and sexual assaults were committed in the football locker room between fall 2015 and January 2017 by multiple members of the football team on freshman players who were new to the varsity team.

Police said assaults occurred at varying levels of criminal offense, including penetration. Victims said they were referred to as "fresh meat" who had to be hazed.

The team didn’t determine initiation “successful” unless there was a form of penetration, police said. Attackers allegedly would manipulate victims' genitals, push their own genitals into the faces of the victims and slap their buttocks.

Victims also were beaten and physically restrained, police said.

Initially, police identified four victims. But as families of victims filed notices of claim against the Chandler district, another victim stepped forward.